Scrumhalf Piri Weepu will start for the All Blacks against the Springboks this Saturday.

Weepu replaces incumbent No 9 Aaron Smith, who was ineligible for a starting role at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium because of a breach in discipline following last Saturday’s Test against Argentina. According to Fairfax NZ News, Smith’s infraction involved him arriving back to the team hotel after the game past the team-imposed curfew.

Weepu may not boast Smith’s speed but it is his physicality that the All Blacks will look to harness in a bloody battle with the Boks.

In other changes, Liam Messam replaces Victor Vito on the blindside flank, while lock Sam Whitelock and hooker Andrew Hore also start.